Instruction Permits for Commercial Drivers

New commercial drivers must get an instruction (CDLI) to practice driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to prepare for the CDL skills test. To obtain the permit you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold a valid operator’s license.
• Pass the knowledge test for the type of vehicle you will be driving.
• Have a valid federal medical card.

Persons who do not have a valid federal medical card will be restricted to:

• No CMV operation in interstate commerce.
• No CMV operation in intrastate commerce unless exempted by federal or state laws, i.e., employed by a government agency or operating a school bus (a state medical form is required for school bus operation).
A CDL instruction permit is valid only for CMV’s. The permit is valid for 6 months ad will list the type of vehicles and endorsements for which you have qualified. Certain restriction will apply to your operation with a CDL instruction permit:
• You must have a qualified driving instructor or a person who is licensed to operate that type CMV, and is at least 21 years old, sitting next to you at all times.
• You may not transport passengers. However, if the accompanying driver is a qualified instructor, 3 other persons with instruction permits may also ride along.
• You may carry property in a CMV while you are driving on an instruction permit.
• Unless you are at least 21 years old, and have a federal medical certificate (Fed Med Card), you may not operate in interstate commerce on an instruction permit.

Drivers who upgrade class, restrictions, or endorsements will need a CDL instruction permit if the upgrade requires a skills test.

All applicants for a driver license must pass a skills test in the type of vehicle they plan to drive. The license endorsements for driving a school bus or a commercial motor vehicle carrying passengers require that the applicant pass a skills test in a school bus or passenger-carrying vehicle.

Safet First!